Improvement in clasps



C. THOMAS. Clasps.

No. 218,904. -PatentedNAug.,26, 14819',

N.PETERS, FHUTOJJTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. 6.

UNITED VSTATES PATENT OEEIcE.

OHAUNOEY THOMAS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IM P'ROVEMENT IN CLASPVS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,904, dated August 26, 1879 application filed l July 21, 17879.

` facet being formed by the process of striking up in a die; a tongue having its fulcrum in the shell `near the central part of the facet; a

spring to operate the tongue, and a loop or eye part adapted to be connected with a strap or a piece of leather, the eye of the loop being adapted to surround the facet struck up from the base of the shell, land being kept from rising from the said facet by the tongue.

Figure l represents, in top view, one of my improved clasps, the parts being unhooked or separated. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the parts applied together, to thereby connect the two separate parts, the dotted lines showing the tongue elevated. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the shell and its facet with the tongue removed 5 and Fig. 4 is a top and side view of the tongue alone.

The shell a is struck out of sheet metal, and has formed near the center of its base 2 a raised facet, b, shown as rectangular.

The shell will also, preferably, be cut out so as to leave prongs 3, by which to attach it to the article to be fastened. The interior of the facet is corrugated* or notched to receive the journal 5 of the tongue d, which, as herein shown, is placed in the central depression.

Between this tongue and the strap or material c, and within the flanged part of the base of the shell, is laid loosely a spring, f, which, acting upon the pivoted end of the tongue, keeps it depressed, as in full lines, Fig. 2, or elevated, as in dotted lines, the tongue being in the latter position when the eye 6 of the loop or frame part g is to be placed over or about the edges of the raised facet, as in Fig. 2, and being turned down after the said eye is made to embrace the said facet, the said tongue then acting only to prevent the loop or eye rising vertically from the end or top of the said facet. The front edge, 7, of the facet is at right angles to the base from which it rises, so as to prevent the eye rising from the facet by reason of strain on the loop in the direction of the arrow.

The loop g is shown as provided with the eye 6, of proper shape to embrace the facet, and with bars 8 9 and prongs l0, the slots be-l tween the bars receiving the strap h, as shown in Fig. 2, the prongs l0 entering holes punched in the said strap, thereby securing the loop to the strap without sewing. Theloop provided with these prongs (suitable holes being made in the strap) enables the loop to be adjusted 0n the strap at a greater or less distance from its end.

I do not, however, desire to limit myself to this way of attaching the loop or eye part to the strap It.

The end 8 of the tongue, after being folded or bent around the journal of the tongue, terminates short of the holding-face of the facet, and is not itself `acted upon by the loop. The height of the facet abovethe base from which it is struck up is substantially equal to the thickness of the. metal composing the loop or eye, so as to keep the parts as low down and thin as possible, so as not to be easily caught or struck by other objects.

I do not, broadly, claim a loop or eye part to embrace a projection, and to be held in place by a pivoted tongue.

It will be noticed in this my clasp that the tongue in no way acts upon so as to move or draw upon the loop, nor does the loop, after the facet is made to enter the eye 6, slip or move longitudinally backward, so as to lessen the strain put upon the strap h as the eye of the loop is passed down over the facet.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the use of a rectangular facet, as its boundary-line may be of other shape-as, for instance, circular; and instead of a loop cut from sheet metal,

4I may, for certain uses, make the loop of wire, its eye being shaped to embrace the facet, the

ends of the wire being attached to a shoe.

I claiml. As an improved article of manufacture, a clasp composed of the shell a, having the raised facet b, struck up therefrom, as described, a

tongue pivoted thereon, va spring, and a loop, provided Withan eye, 6, to pass over the tongue and engage the facet, the tongue acting to prevent the loop rising from the holding-face of the facet, all substantially as described.

2. The loop g, provided with the eye 6, and the bars and prongs, the latter being adapted to enter holes inthe strap to thereby adjust the clasp upon the strap, substantially as described.

3. The shell a, provided with prongs by which to attach it, a flange about its base to receive between it and the strap a spring, and l a raised facet, b, corrugated or notched to receive the journal of the tongue, combined with the tongue and the spring, to operate all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

l GHAUNGEY THOMAS.

Witnesses: A

G. W. GREGORY, N. E. WHITNEY. 

